Time To Prepare School Districts for Modernization

The Reynolds Group has been providing environmental consulting, assessment, and oversight services to Southern California school districts and commercial building owners since 1989. The Asbestos Hazards Emergency Response Act (AHERA), created in the mid-1980s, required inspection, assessment, and documentation of public and private schools (Grades K through 12) that may impact your Summer renovation and maintenance projects.

AHERA did not require school districts to investigate exterior building systems. Consequently, stucco, window caulking, and roofing components were not originally tested for asbestos content. Additionally, many school districts elected to make assumptions that certain interior building materials were asbestos-containing materials without testing. Many times sampling was not properly performed to suit current needs.

Prior to undertaking demolition, renovation, or modernization, local air quality districts mandate that “suspected” exterior and interior materials impacted by renovation or demolition should be documented as “asbestos-containing” or not. School districts must comply with Federal, Stated and Local Regulation, while at the same time, ensuring they do not spend money “abating” materials that were assumed to contain asbestos. Sudden and accidental asbestos exposures can be proactively managed.

The Reynolds Group has provided supplemental asbestos investigations of exteriors and previously untested interior materials, such as sprayed acoustical ceiling texture, plaster, and flooring products, for ongoing renovation and maintenance projects. TRG has also provided specification design, bidding assistance, construction monitoring, and documentation services during renovation, demolition, and modernization projects. Typically, TRG has also assisted school districts in updating their asbestos control and documentation programs to promote compliance with AHERA record-keeping requirements.